Huione Pay denies knowledge of the transactions
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July 16, 2024- North Korean hackers suspected of belonging to the Lazarus Group are under scrutiny after it was revealed they sent over $150,000 worth of stolen cryptocurrency to a Cambodian payment firm, Huione Pay, an international news agency report said citing FBI.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the crypto originated from an anonymous digital wallet linked to Lazarus, which is accused of hacking three cryptocurrency companies – Atomic Wallet, CoinsPaid, and Alphapo – in June and July of 2023.
The FBI estimates the total stolen amount to be around $160 million.
However, Huione Pay, one of whose directors is Hun To, cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, claims it was unaware of the indirect link to the hacked funds.
The firm stated that there were multiple transactions between its wallet and the source of the crypto.
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) prohibits payments firms from dealing in cryptocurrencies and has indicated potential corrective measures against Huione Pay for violating regulations.
The FBI and Estonian authorities are reportedly investigating the hacks, while the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime emphasizes the need to address shared money-laundering networks in Southeast Asia.
